Geranium plant named ‘Pacsalkom’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Pacsalkom’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and double light pink-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Pacsalkom’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pacsalkom’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new double-flower type Zonal Geranium cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2001 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. The cultivar Pacsalkom was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany since December, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Pacsalkom has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pacsalkom’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pacsalkom’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Double light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Pacsalpri, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Pacsalpri in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more compact than         plants of the cultivar Pacsalpri.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium were slightly         darker green in color than leaves of plants of the cultivar         Pacsalpri.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium did not have a         distinct zonation pattern whereas leaves of plants of the         cultivar Pacsalpri had a distinct zonation pattern.     -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the cultivar Pacsalpri         differed slightly in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacsalkom’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementio ned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Dresden, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the autumn and winter and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were about four months old when the photograph was taken, and plants were about six months old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Pacsalkom. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright to rounded plant habit; densely             foliated. Moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basal             branching habit with about five lateral branches developing             per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Internode length: About 1 cm. to 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 5 cm.         -   Width.—About 8 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate; imbricate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; rough.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             147A; venation, 147B. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 147B; venation, 147B. Zonation pattern: Not             discernible. Petiole: Length: About 7 cm. to 10 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent; rough. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.             Flowers face upright to outward; flowers open like rose and             become mostly flat with development. Flowers persistent.             Flowers not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about eight             flower umbels per plant each with about 25 flower buds and             open flowers.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from             April until frost in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten             days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on             the plant.         -   Umbel height.—About 7 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Rounded. Color: 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About 20. Length: About 2 cm.             Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: 52D; color fading towards the margin;             towards the base, close to 155D; venation, 52A. Color             becoming closer to 56A with development When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: 56D; towards the base, close to             155D; venation, 56D.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about three. Length:             About 1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Acute             to rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower sur faces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: 52D; color fading             towards the margin; towards the base, close to 155D;             venation, 52A. Color becoming closer to 56A with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             56D; towards the base, close to 155D; venation, 56D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect to outwardly             slanted. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About five. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Tubular. Anther color: Brownish. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Golden brown. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape:             Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 60A. Style length: About             3 mm. Style color: Close to 60C. Ovary color: Close to 148B.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about     35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacsalkom’ as illustrated and described. 